Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 29, Number 9, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 29 April 1908 — Page 2

THE MYSTERY OF THE LAWS IN CHINA The Fanny Thing* One Sees in Smiling Round the World By MARSHALL P. WILDER (Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.) Shanghai has 12 precinct police star tlons and one court, known as the “Mixed Court,” because some representative of the’ several consulates sits each day with the Chinese magistrate. I was introduced to the magistrate by Dr. Barchet, and found him very gracious, and possessing a fair supply of English. He was dressed in full mandarin dress, brown satin coat, beautifully embroidered, and a black velvet hat turned up about the edge, and decorated with the button, the horsetail and the peacock's feathers that indicate a mandarin’s ranlj, We went into the courtroom, everyone quickly took their places and the hearings began. All prisoners when brought before the magistrate must kneel during the entire proceeding. Though all the prisoners were Chh nese, and the cases were conducted in that language, I could follow most of them, as the English sergeants preferred, their charges to Dr. Burchet, who is a proficient Chinese scholar, /and he in turn translated them to the magistrate. When a policeman brings a man before the court be drives him by his cue, and when he takes him away, he pulls him by It, or if there are several prisoners, he knots their cues together and pulls them along In a bunch. With such persuasion, a prisoner is not apt to hesitate long.' For thieving, prisoners are sentenced to a certain number of strokes with the bamboo, or the cangue tot so many hours a day—sometimes both together. The cangue is a large square board that fits about their nocks, and besides being very heavy and uncomfortable, is considered a great disgrace, for It has the prisoner’s name and crime pasted on. it. In order to make the punishment more severe, the prisoner is often condemned to be taken to the place where the crime was committed, and made to stand near the store or house where the nature of his crime, as well as his name .are plainly to be read by every passerby. This is a terrible punishment for them, for the Chinese are very sensitive about being publicly shamed, ■“losing face,” they call It. In the afternoon I went back to the. mixed court and saw some men bambooed. It was done in a different place ffQm where the trials take place, being at one side of an open court; where a desk was placed, behind which the assistant magistrate sat. The prisoner throws himself on a piece of matting laid on the top step leading to the magistrate’s desk, his trousers are pushed down, exposing his thighs, and two men in ridiculous

“Make Little Squeeze.”

red sugar-loaf hats trimmed with blue, Beat themselves on the prisoner’s feet and shoulders, the latter one clutching his cue. , Two men with little flat bamboo rods about a yard long squat each Bide, when one begins and delivers Bibout 25 lashes —then rests, and the . Other takes it up, counting aloud as they beat. The prisoner howls and cries and begs, tears streaming from hU eyes, for though it does not break the skin, it is extremely painful. The men sitting on the prisoner joke and laugh, the officers standing about carry on animated conversations, and BB this all takes place in a courtyard, open to ihe-street, children run ih and out, playing and laughing, mothers with babies 'fit their arms look stolidly on, blinking solemnly, * While a little crowd of curious men •tand about the. entrance. • * * j ' • The mixed court, being jointly under the Jurisdiction of foreigners, is necessarily more merciful and lenient than an unmixed Chinese court. A gentleman told me 6f"witnessing b courtroom scene in the interior of China, where a man who refused to confess was struck on the ankle bone "with a mpliet until he fainted from

the' hideous pain—the bone being crushed to a Jelly. The most dreadful of all execution* In China is the ling chee, or hundred cuts, where the condemned man la given 99 cuts on different part* of the body, contrived with such devilish cunning that death does not come until the last cut, reaching the heart, .puts them out of their agony. This execution Is only administered for three crimes; attempted assassination of the emperor .or empress, the killing of father or mother or the killing of a husband by a wife. The killing of a wife by & husband Is not so serious a matter.

In China a man must sign his own death warrant by inking his thumb and making the Impression of It on the paper. Chinese law, when once It h&s a man in its clutches, is loath to give him" up whether he be Innocent or guilty. So if he does not sign the warrant willingly he Is tortured until 1 he does it in sheer ijgsperation. Political prisoners, who are sentenced to banishment, seldom reach the place of their destination, for after such a sentence there Is almost always an accident, either by the chair In which he Is carried being tipped while on a bridge by one of the coolies stumbling and thrown Into the river, where there is no hope of escape from the clumsy, tightly-closed affair, or else the banished one is mysteriously attacked by highwaymen and murdered.

AH executions of any sort are free for anyone, man, woman or child, to

The Cangue.

wftnesa. And the effect of that universal and deadly system of bribery i* only too apparent, a system that saps the strength and ability of China to become a great country, for from one end of the kingdom to the other there Is no disinterested desire for advancement; only a case of the big fish eating up the little ones—and no man so great that he cannot be bought. If a prisoner condemned to be beheaded will pay the executioner a fat bribe he may expect to be sent out of existence with neatness and dispatch after being heavily drugged with opium. ' But if he refuses, he must suffer a clumsy execution that will be attended by torture and pain before the end finally comes. Even in the simple and less painful bambooing, a bribe will induce the whipper to hold the bamboo stiff, causing much less pain than If allowed to bend and spring. It appeared that only thosq. of the criminals who could not purchase ransom were executed. Those who had SSO, or friends that could supply that sum, were liberated on payment of the same to the mandarin of the district. The luckless 29 had apparently neither friends nor money. So they were marshaled out of prison under a strong guard of soldiers; and, like the prisoners in our Sing Sing who are allowed for their last meal the best that the prison cuisine affords, these malefactors were furnished any mode of conveyance at the disposal of the authorities to convey them to the place of execution. ' r The condemned were marshaled in line, and required to kneel on “all fours” before the mandarin and his suite. All knew the procedure, and thgre was no confusion. The beadsman,. armed,with _a brioad : hlaa^d. sword, stepped out. If this gentleman should fail to sever the hpad of hig victim in three blows, his own would ue forfeit. .But in this instance ha did his wojk with both certainty and celerity. Approaching the first in line, he gave a swift, swinging blow on the back of the neck and a decapitated head rolled onto the sword.

This dreadful system of bribery and “squeezing” is the canker at the heart of China. Everyone expects it from everyone else; e'ven the children are not to be trusted. A Chinese woman sends her child to a chow Shop, and weighs the food when it is brought home to see that her own child is not “squeezing” her. In makijug change, the smallest boy, as salesman, will keep back two or three “cash.” Should you say: “How fashion you steal my cash? You’ b’long allee same as t’ief,” he will Indignantly answer: “My no b’long t’lef; my ketchie you watch, then b’long t’ief, but m.y just make little squeeze.” It would seem as if,all the horrible punishments so publicly administered would effectually prevent even the most reckless and hardened from committing crime, but if "doesn’t seem to do so, and the courts go on flourishing on the bribes extorted and the money paid by innocent people to keep out of court, for it is Openly ’averred that a Chinese court of Justice, among is not even above blackmail. It is not surprising that among the people are such sayings as “Tigers and snakes are kinder than Judges or runners,” or “In life, beware ot courts; 1$ death, beware of hell l”

KSQUITHISPREMIEB CAREER OF BUCCEBSOR OF BIR CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN. Indomitable Struggle as Result of Which Hs Has Risen from Unknown Barrister to Hoad of British Cabinot London.—To tell the life story of Rt. Hon. Herbert H. Asquith, the new British premier, Is to recount the history of an indomitable struggle which lifted an ambitious man from the office of a briefless barrister into the virtual headship of an empire. Mr. Asquith is a Yorkshire man, born of a nonconformist family and brought up amid the religious Influences of a Moravian community. From his boyhood he has taken life seriously and the determination he displayed during his school days is doubtless the underlying reason of his elevation to the proud position which comes to him by the resignation of Sir Henry Gampbell : Bannerman. From the City of London School, where his first education was obtained, Mr. Asquith went to Oxford. At BalUol he fell under the influence of Jowett, and Into the company of men who in later years made the most distinguished names in contemporary history. He achieved a great reputation, carried -everything before him and proved himself the first man of his year. With his degree he went directly to the bar and for several years experienced the tribulations of the young barrister. Not long after leaving the university he married. His wife died

iL; .§ wRw i • - - . \'W,i . v jfjj / \ / y j > \ yy Herbert H. Asquith.

leaving him with five children and this incident had a deep effect upon his earlier years. Mr. Asquith had taken an inferior part in politics until 1886, when he was returned to the house of commons as a liberal from East' Pifeshire. He thereupon began a surprising career. He made his first mark in the liberal party by defending Mr. Cunninghame Graham, who with John Burns was prosecuted for attempting to vindicate the right of public meeting in Trafalgar Square. The case was lost, but the fight he made strengthened Mr. Asquith with the liberals both in and out of parliament. In the following year he laid the corner stone of his reputation. For some time he had been junior to Sir Charles Russell, later the chief justice of England. When Charles Stewart Parnell was attacked by the Times and demanded an investigation he retained Sir Charles to represent him, with Mr. Asquith as his junior. The Times put Mr. Soames in the box as Its first witness and Sir Charles had him to no purpose. The court adjourned for luncheon, and Sir Charles staggered Mr. Asquith by calmly informing him that he had better cross-examine the next witness. " ' Mr. Asquith protested, but when court again convened prepared to take on Mr. McDonald, who, after Mr. Asquith’s cross-examination, became famous as the “Simple Simon” of the Times. Asquith’s first question McDSfflHir aftß*e3B MRy~ fashion. The opening was immediately seized by Mr. Asquith and his reputation was made. FaVorable ‘ notice ’of Mr. Gladstone was attracted by the success of Mr. Asquith in the IJarnell case, and soon after the home secretaryship' in the incomfngjiberal cabinet was offered to Mr. Asquith, when he was only 40 years old. He was thus promoted at one leap over the head of Sir Charles Russell, who was attorney general, which occasioned much surprise and comment. - . , Mr. Asquith held cabinet rank during . th# last administration •of Mr. Gladstone and the first administration of Lord Rosebery, When Lord Rosebery’s cabinet broke up Mr. Asquith’s friends believed he was committing political suicide by returning to the . bar. He, however, mixed business and politics successfully, retaining his seat in the house of commons until the return of the liberal government' under Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. Mr. Asquith was at once made chancellor of the exchequer, although bi3 public addresses and the policies he had advocated had always classified him as a radical free trader. Few politicians can claim, it js said, greater credit for the defeat of the protectionists at the last general election. Mr. Asquith is 56 years old. His shrewd, clean-shaven, eminently law-yer-like countenance is familiar at every big public meeting, and is one of the most prolific sources of inspiration to the caricaturist

THE POET IN HARD LUCK. Why One of the Tribe le Not Writing “Odee to Spring." I rise as B a. m. now, but,l haven’t time to write a poem to “rosy morn.” The other day, while admiring the beauties of nature, a farmer caught me and has been plowing over me ever since. It is my first experience with the Georgia mule,- and I do not find that animal tractable. Besides, it Is a pity to plow up the daisies, glittering with the dew of heaven! And, then, tse mule does not appreciate poetry; in fact, when I recite It, there is always a kick coming. As I bad no vielble means of support—other than six poems on “Spring” on my person, the farmer attached me under the vagrant act, and so made a mule manager of me. The mule does not even understand Latin, and I have decided to waste no more Greek on the unappreciative animal. I don’t think plowing and poetry agree.—Atlanta Constitution. Tree an Old Man’s Friend. Charles Nickolson, Sr., has a pecan tree of which he is justly proud. In 1855 he was brought to Texas as a slave. When he. was set free he bought a small farm and there was one pecan fcfee on it. He planted a few more trees, but they were small or common pecans. While young and strong he raised cotton and corn and made a living, but no money to save. To-day he is. no longer able to work the field, but devotes his attention to pecan trees. One tree bears the largest pecans, grown in America. They can be found at the department of agriculture, Washington, where he sent a few. Last year he sold $54 worth from this one tree. He gave his friends some and planted more. The young trees he is selling rapidly at one dollar each and the other day said he had none left. —Westfield Correspondence Houston Post

Telephonic Intelligence Service. Early next fall , there will be in operation along the St. Lawrence river, between Montreal and Quebec, a telephonic marine intelligence service, the like of which is not to be found anywhere, and for that reason it has many remarkable and Interesting features. It will enable vessel owners to keep fully informed of the movement of their craft and when desirable to communicate orders to the captains. It will permit the captains to keep posted in the conditions existing along the river and in this manner to avoid any unusual danger. There will be a number of stations erected along the stream and at each station will be erected a mast 65 feet high with a cross spar 25 feet in length, placed about 20 feet from the top of the mast. From this crossspar signals will be displayed, one side for down-stream and the other for up. Devoted to Army’s Work. Adjt Emma Westbrook, now in charge of the Salvation Army barracks in West Pontiac, Mich., was one of the seven women who came with Commissioner Railten from England, in 1880, to found the Salvation Army in America. She has just passed her fifty-fifth birthday and has been in the army service 32 years. Although she is entitled to a pension and retirement she refuses to take either, and has just declared her intention to remain in the work as long as she has strength the duties. Old Custom Revived. A singular revival Is taking place In Paris for wearing the tooth of a wolf or badger set in gold as a mascot An old superstition connected the wearing of such ornaments as provocative of good fortune. The custom of wearing a thumb ring is also being resuscitated, and at this present time a charming young actress on the English stage is demonstrating the vogue, partly, no'cloubt, because it i3 in keeping with the period in which she isjlving in the play, and partly in recognition of the fashion Paris is patronizing. THE MARKETS. N.w Tork, Apr. 27. LIVE STOCK—Steer* *5 60 0 75 1 Cull Sheep 826 f3 76 FLOURVWInter Straights.. 416 @4 80 WI^EAT— May 1 W%@ 1 07*1 corn—Mayi 7s%® 75% RYE—No. 2 Western 88 # 90 BUTTER—Creafnery 21 @ .29 EGGS 16Vi® 19*4 CHEESE .. 9 @ 15V* CHICAGO. CATTLE—Choice Steers 8 76 7 25 Fair to Good Steers 6 75 @ 675 Yearlings, Plain to Fancy 6-50 @ 700 Fair to Choice Feeders.. 426 @6 26 1 Calves 400 @5 60 HOGS-Heavy Pack’g Sows 6 35 f 5 50 n Mixed Packers 646 @6 66 Pig* r; J 3 75 @ 5 26 BUTTER—Creamery 28%@ 30 , POULTRY ” "!!!!" 12 @ 14 EGGS 13%@ 16 POTATOES (per bu.) ........ 66 @ 71 FLOUR—Spring Wh*at, Sp’l 6 60 @ 685 GRAIN-Wheat, May 97H§ 99*4 I July 8844® 89% Corn, July 61*40 62*4 J Oats, Old, May 53 © 68% I Rye, No. 2 74%@ T 6 MILWAUKEE. GRAIN-r-Wheat, No. 1 Nor’n 8110 0 111 - i July , 88 @ 89% . Coyti, May 66*4® 66% Oats, Standard 63 © 63% I Rye, No. 1 80 @ 88% KANSAS CITY. GRAlN—Wheat, May $ 91 © 92 July 81 @ 82% 1 Com, May - 60 @ 60% Oats, No. 2 White 48%@ 49% ST. LOUIS. , CATfLE-Beef Steers ff7s @7OO Texas Steers 3 60 @6 25 HOGB—Packers .. 460 06 70 Butchers 6 60 1 1 6 80 SHEEP—Natives 'i 3 75 @(>6o , OMAHA. CATTLE—;NatIve Steers .... *5 00 0 6 75 I Stockers and Feeders ... 300 @6 30 1 Cowo and Heifers ,3 50 @6OO HOGS-Heavy 5 30 @6 50 WSEEP-Wethers * 00 0 6 00

HAD CATARRH THIRTY YEARS. Congressman Meekison .r CONGRESSMAN MEEKISON COMMENDS PE-RU NA.

•*/ have used several bottles of Peruna mad I /eel greatly benefited thereby from my caterrb of the heed. I tee! encouraged to believe thet H I use It a short time longer I will be fully able to eradicate the disease of thirty years ’ standing. ’—Da vld Meek Ison., OTHER REMARKABLE CURES. V* Mr. Jacob L. Davis, Galena, Stone county, Mo., writes: “I have been in bad health for thirty-seven years, and after taking twelve bottles of your Peruna I an cured.” Mr. C. N. Peterson, 132 South Main St., Council Bluffs, lowa, writes: I cannot tell you how much good Peruna has done me. Constant confinement in my ■tore began to tell on my health, and I felt that I was gradually breaking down. I tried several remedies, but obtained no permanent relief until I took Peruna. I felt better immediately, and five bottles restored me to eomplete health. : A SINCERE RECOMMENDATION. Mr. D. C. Prosser, Bravo, Allegan Cos., Mich., writes: “Two yeess ago I was badly afflicted with catarrh of the stomach. I had had a run of typhoid fever, was very depleted. I could find nothing I could eat without causing distress and sour stumach. Finally I came to the conclusion that I had catarrh Os the stomach and seeing Peruna advertised, began to take it. It helped me soon, and after taking three or four bottlee I was entirely cured of stomach trouble, and can now eat anything.” Manufactured by Peruna Drug Manufacturing Company, Columbus, Ohio.

Perversion of Type. The Sunday school teacher was entertaining her class with what she had fondly planned to be a "social evening.” To her disappointment she found that all spontaneity had beep left at home with the boys’ everyday clothes, and conversation dragged hopelessly until her bull terrier came into the room. He sniffed about from one shy hand of welcome to another, when suddenly a boyish voice, gruff with embarrassment, burst forth: “I had § Bull pup like that oncet, but he growed up into a bloodhound.” Responsive. The lecturer had announced that among the Athabascans, on the Koskowine river, the females were supreme. “Pardon me for the interruption,” said a resolute looking spinster, “but I must go.” “Are you 111?” asked the speaker, with proper concern. “Never better,” responded the departing, “hut I’m hitting the trail for the Koskokwine.” SIOO Reward, SIOO. The reader, of tbli papar will be pleaaed to learn that there la at leaat one dreaded dtaeaae that aetance haa bean able to care In all lta atagea, and that la Catarrh. Hall'a Catarrh Cara la the only poalilre •are now known te the medical fraternity. Catarrh being a conatltutloaal dtaeaae, require, a eonatltntlonal treatment. Hall'a Catarrh Core la taigra Internally, acting directly upon the blood and mncana surfaces of the syatam, thereby destroying the foundation of the dlaeaae, and giving the patlaat strength by building up the constitution and assisting nature In doing Its work. The proprietors hart so ranch faith la lta curative power* that they offer One Hundred Dollars for any ease that It falls to •are. Send for list of testimonial*. Address F. J. CHENEY * CO., Toledo* O. Sold by all Druggists, 79c. Take Hall'a Family J-llli for constipation. Way to Judge, aJtaa. —- There are two good ways to judge a man—-by what he doesn’t pay -and by what he doesn’t say. Garfield Tea is a natural laxative—it regulates the digestion, purifies the blood, cleanses the system, clears the complexion, brightens the eyes and brings the glow of splendid Health! People who boast of their ability to atttend to their own affairs usually manage to butt into the affairs of others. Minnesota School Land Bales June and July 1908. 300,000 acres to be offered. For particulars address 8. G. Iverson, State Auditor, St. Paul, Minn. The reward of one duty done lg the power to fulfill another.—-George Eliot You always get full value in Lewis’ Single,. Binder straight 5c cigar. Your dealer or Lewi** Factory, Peoria, 111. The more a woman tries to look young the more she doesn’t

There le Only Onm "Bromo Quinine” That la Laxative Bromo Quinine MO THE WOULD OVER TO OUDK A OOLB ID OHE DAY. Always remember the 101 l name. Look lor this signature on every box. 260. Tfl “ ■

Are You Making Money? You should and would if you follow advice in our market letter. Read what we say about Railroads, Wheat and Corn. We ate the best posted firm on Mining Stocks. Give us the name of your stock and we will advise yon as to its merit and value. Send for our market letter. It costs you nothing and may make you a lot of money. MINES INVESTING CO. IS Wall Street, NEW YORK BEST BANK REFERENCES*.

M Economy M if in decorating the walls of ■ I your home, can be most I ■ surely effected by using | I AlaMinel I Th* SaxutaiylVfcll Grating | I The soft, velvety Alabas- 8 ■ tine tints produce the most || i§ artistic effects, and make the w If home lighter and brighter. || ft Sold by Paint, Drut. Hardware and !| ■ General Store! in carefully sealed if ■ and properly labeled packages, at ■ 50c the package to; white and ■ ■ 66c the package for tints. _ See ig that the name ‘Alabastine” is on §j| H each package before It is opened it jf either by yourself or the workmen. IS The Alabastine Company ■ Grand Rapids, Mich. Blm Eastern Office, 105 Water Stnst, Jl How York City. J$F nuts ease-see, ■Hbtn cwwne.o. • SOLDIERS’ WIDOWS April 19, 1908, Congress passed a law giving all widows of Civil War soldiers, having 90 days honorable service, a pension of KM •. OO per month. Write us for paper*. BYINGTON & WILSON, Attys., Washington. D. 0. ! MTEinS&WS&gS